I'm testing types of timber - I was going to use expensive cedar but good Douglas fir / Oregon pine is giving me a nice finish and it's easy to get in Sydney. at about 1/3 the price of cedar.
I just need to find nice dry fir.

I've been burning it twice and using a soft wire brush.

I'm going to stain it also - I need to try a lighter brown colour the darker Japan Brown is to dark.

Working with the router, I picked up this ozito router for $60.00 it's small and easy to handle. I have 2 larger routers but this looked good for the job. Like the routers sign makers use.

Bamboo supplies in Sydney are hard to find I've shipped down from QLD Bamboo slats to play with from
BAMBOO AUSTRALIA
1171 Kenilworth Road
Belli Park Qld 4562
I'm going to try the 2mm bamboo woven ply 2400x1200mm at $55.00 sheet. I was quoted on 8 sheets delivery to Sydney abut $170.00 but I will probably use less.

In a few weeks I'm going to pickup some 25mm / 50mm / 80-100mm Bamboo from Caveman Bamboo in Sydney to test, Will post.

Aloha Tikispeer - interesting handle. Sounds like Tiki is alive and well in Aus. I'm an old bastard and can still remember going to The Island Trader and the Jungle Bar in Sydney which were the only polynesian pop establishments around in the 1960s-early 70s. There was also the Mogambo in King Street Newtown which was more of a beatnik coffee house jazz venue. Sadly all gone now.

Looking forward to seeing your space develop.

THIV out.

And P.S. - that post from Grog was the longest sentence I've seen from him.